egg nog

Kevin has always loved egg nog, and I never really got it. Last night he was craving it so I suggested that we make it. I somehow got tasked with the chore, and guess what? I like egg nog!

Ingredients

4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups milk
3 whole cloves
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup bourbon (optional)

3 cups

Directions

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, beat egg yolks and then slowly add in the sugar. Continue running the machine until the mixture is fluffy.

Over medium heat, combine the milk, cloves, and cinnamon in a saucepan and cook until it nears a boil.

With the standing mixer running, slowly add the hot milk. (I transfer the milk to a pyrex, which makes it easier to pour into my mixer.) Then pour the mixture back into the saucepan.

Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat when it reaches 160°F or before it boils and the milk curdles.

Stir in the half-and-half, nutmeg, and vanilla. Strain to remove the cloves. Chill at least half an hour.

Add in the bourbon when you're ready to serve.

45 minutes